IN YOUR GARDEN this month…

STYLE YOUR garden

Gardening by the sea may look like a breeze when you visit the coast on a calm, sunny day but in reality, many beachside gardens have to contend with salt-laden strong winds for many months of the year. Those with sheltered, south-facing sites may have an easier time than more exposed gardens, but whether your outdoor space is set back from the shoreline or perched on a clifftop, it can be made into an area of outstanding beauty with plants that have adapted to maritime conditions.

Create shelter belts with hedges of resilient shrubs that have leathery or waxy foliage to allow the passage of wind while simultaneously diluting its power. Escallonia, griselinia littoralis and euonymus japonicus will all form an effective green wind barrier for less robust plants to shelter behind.

Choose specimens that prefer free-draining soil and can survive